If it's Cisco training you're after, but you've no practical experience with routers, initially you should go for the Cisco CCNA qualification. This will provide you with knowledge and skills to work with routers. The world wide web is built up of many routers, and large commercial ventures with several different sites also rely on them to allow their networks to keep in touch.
As routers are connected to networks, it's vital to understand how networks work, or you will have difficulties with the training and be unable to understand the work. Seek out a program that covers networking fundamentals (CompTIA is a good one) before you start the CCNA.
The CCNA qualification is more than adequate; at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. Once you've got a few years experience behind you, you'll find out if this level is required. If so, you'll have the knowledge you require to take on your CCNP - because it's far from a walk in the park - and ought not to be underestimated.
Many companies only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and forget the reasons for getting there - getting yourself a new job or career. You should always begin with the end goal - don't make the vehicle more important than the destination. It's a sad testimony to the sales skills of many companies, but thousands of new students commence training that sounds marvellous from the sales literature, but which delivers a career that doesn't satisfy. Talk to many university students for examples.
It's a good idea to understand what expectations industry may have of you. What exams they'll want you to gain and how to gain experience. It's also worth spending time considering how far you think you'll want to build your skill-set as it will force you to choose a particular set of qualifications. Sense dictates that you seek guidance and advice from a professional advisor before you begin a particular learning programme, so there's no doubt that the content of a learning package provides the skill-set required for your career choice.
Consider only learning programmes that lead to commercially accepted accreditations. There are far too many trainers promoting unknown 'in-house' certificates which are worthless in the real world. Unless your qualification is issued by a company like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco, then you may discover it will have been a waste of time - because it won't give an employer any directly-useable skills.
Many trainers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance facility, to assist your search for your first position. The fact of the matter is it's not as difficult as you may be led to believe to find the right work - assuming you're well trained and qualified; because there's still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.
Update your CV at the beginning of your training though (advice can be sought on this via your provider). Don't delay till the exams have actually been passed. It's not uncommon to find that junior support jobs have been offered to people who are in the process of training and haven't even passed a single exam yet. At the very least this will get you into the 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather than the 'No' pile. The most reliable organisations to help you land that job are generally specialised and independent recruitment consultants. Because they get paid commission to place you, they have more incentive to get on with it.
A constant frustration of various course providers is how much men and women are prepared to study to become certified, but how un-prepared that student is to get the role they've qualified for. Have confidence - the IT industry needs YOU.
Commercially accredited qualifications are now, undoubtedly, starting to replace the older academic routes into the IT industry - so why is this happening? With the costs of academic degree's spiralling out of control, plus the IT sector's increasing awareness that vendor-based training is often far more commercially relevant, we've seen a big surge in Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe authorised training programmes that provide key skills to an employee at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time. This is done by focusing on the actual skills required (together with an appropriate level of associated knowledge,) rather than going into the heightened depths of background detail and 'fluff' that computer Science Degrees are prone to get tied up in - to pad out the syllabus.
What if you were an employer - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What is easier: Trawl through reams of different degrees and college qualifications from various applicants, asking for course details and which workplace skills they've acquired, or choose a specific set of accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. You can then focus on how someone will fit into the team at interview - rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.
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